Kadija (SABLE Publications) Ngugi and
Adama Bah
( Camp Africa) meeting Ngugi at the airport
Highlights of the Mboka 2017 Festival in The Gambia from 7-17 January 2017 included the visit of the esteemed three times Noble Prize nominated Kenyan writer, Ngugi wa Thiong'o. One highlight was the production of his play, 'The Black Hermit' produced by Ebunjan Theatre Troupe. Another was the dramatisation and publications of his short story - very apt for the time and environment in which he arrived in - 'The Upright Revolution', now published in three Gambian languages, Wolof, Mandinka and Fula.
Below are links to press, audio and tv taken during and after the festival.
To start, please check out this great blog for a comprehensive report on The Mboka Festival and other fantastic updates on the African literary scene.
PRESS
TV AND VIDEO LINKS
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| Ngugi arrives at Banjul Airport on 13 Jan |
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| A Feature on Ngugi wa Thiongo by Ebrimah Baldeh (15 Jan) |
POST FESTIVAL
http://www.jamesmurua.com/category/gambia-literature/
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jan/19/new-gambian-leader-adama-barrow-sworn-in-at-ceremony-in-senegal
A video documentary is being made of the festival to be screened on Africans in London TV (AILTV) Watch out for it!
Ngugi on Newshour BBC World Service (Audio)
Mboka means 'One Family' in Wolof and will offer festival go-ers a 10-day festival of distinction and diversity that celebrates Gambian cultural heritage alongside African diasporic cultural heritage. It is a One World, Diaspora, Pan African experience!
Much more will become available online on our website www.mbokafestival.org over the coming months, so stay in touch as we continue to upload content from the 2017 Festival and details of the 2018 festival!
THE 2008 DATES ARE
SATURDAY 6 JAN TO SATURDAY 20 JAN 2018
THE CORE DATES FOR THE LITERARY FESTIVAL ARE
FRIDAY 12 JAN TO SATURDAY 20 JAN 2018
The festival will include:
Literary Festival,
International Book Fair,
"Good Market" Food Fair,
Yoga Experience,
Art Exhibition,
Gambian Cultural Performances (music, singing, dancing) Oware Tournament, Conferences for
Youth and Academics, River Excursion,
Responsible Tourism Seminar,
Marathon Challenge, Bike Challenge....and more....so you know you have to come!
We are also excited and honoured to announce our partners from the 2017 festival who are back on board for the 2018 festival. Other partners to be confirmed soon:
ADEPT - UK,
ASSET BANTABA - GAMBIA,
GTB,
NCAC,
HARLEM BOOK FAIR
NUMBI Arts - UK,
OWWA (Organisation of Women Writers in Africa) - USA
SAHEL INVEST - GAMBIA,
YARAM ARTS
The festival is underpinned with a 'Responsible Tourism' remit advised and guided by award winning responsible tourism activist, Mr Adama Bah, founder of Camp Africa.
"The Gambia as a mature tourism destination with over 50 years of experience has a lot to share especially in the area of Responsible Tourism Development: experiences of making The Gambia a better place to live in and a better place to visit - recognising that it is the positive interaction between peoples of diverse cultures that makes The Gambia unique; this is The Gambia the MBOKA festival wants to showcase."
We plan to have an international seminar on tourism's contributions to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development following the Berlin Declaration on "Transforming Tourism."
For more information and regular updates visit:
Supported by ADEPT
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